Today I am thankful for my boys. Being a mom is the hardest and easiest thing I have ever done. Loving these boys feels as natural as breathing, but the sleepless nights, the worry, the days when my patience is low and they’re being particularly challenging — those parts of motherhood don’t always come so easily.

I’m thankful to these boys for forgiving me so quickly when I make mistakes, and loving me in spite of my flaws. I’m thankful for Judah, who tells me I’m beautiful with absolute sincerity even on my worst days and frequently says, “You’re the best mama I ever saw in my whooooole life.” I’m thankful for Noah, who looks at me like I’m the world and the sun and the moon and everything in between because my love was the very first love he ever knew.

We talk a lot about the sacrifices of motherhood, but we rarely mention where mothers find the strength to give so much of themselves — it’s because of all the strength and unconditional love that our kids give to us. So thank you, sweet boys. I promise to keep trying my very hardest to be worthy of the love and trust you give to me so freely.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas and the aunts and the big sisters and the nannies and the teachers and any woman who has ever made a difference in the life of a child. The children you love and support and teach appreciate all that you do for them, whether they tell you so or not, and the world is a better place because of you.

And a special shout out to my mom, who taught me to always listen to my instincts; be confident in my choices; never stop learning and growing; and most importantly, to love fearlessly.